A new Ebola vaccine candidate has entered human trials after a volunteer received the first dose of a vaccine targeting the deadly Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Oxford University confirmed that the vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, was administered on Friday to a 37-year-old volunteer, Ed Hunt, in Oxford, United Kingdom.
The trial comes as an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has killed more than 1,270 people out of nearly 3,000 reported infections.
Researchers have been racing to develop vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.
Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute said the vaccine moved from concept to human testing in just eight weeks, following a major collaborative effort.
The phase one trial will assess the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine among 50 healthy adults, with more volunteers being recruited.
The project received funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, while the Serum Institute of India has produced 620,000 doses ahead of possible future use.
Further trials are being prepared in Uganda, subject to regulatory approval.
The outbreak, which is the 17th in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s history, has remained concentrated in the country’s conflict-affected northeast.
The World Health Organisation has warned that the outbreak is outpacing response efforts, with insecurity limiting access to some affected communities.
